Not far-removed from being the AL’s best closer with Baltimore, Britton’s return in a setup role underscores the Yanks’ signature strength, as well as how much the defending world champion Red Sox are lacking in bullpen star power.

Dellin Betances is entering his free-agent walk year and closer Aroldis Chapman is eligible to opt out of his contract at year’s end.

But by all accounts, Andujar diligently worked on his throwing and footwork at third base, areas that must show improvement. Already an AL All-Star, a more consistent Torres should be a pinstriped staple for years to come.

Key position battle

Luke Voit(Photo11: Julio Cortez, AP)

At first base, Greg Bird’s latest ankle surgery and season-long slump opened a door for right-handed hitting Luke Voit, who bashed through it with a barrage of extra-base hits.

If he’s healthy and productive, this is Tulowitzki’s job until Didi Gregorius (Tommy John surgery, right elbow) returns sometime around the All-Star break. But that’s a big ‘if’ considering Tulo’s recent injury history, putting his career sharply in decline at age 34.

Jacoby Ellsbury

Jacoby Ellsbury(Photo11: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports file)

Another 2018 wipeout due to hip surgery, Ellsbury enters this camp just as he did last year – with absolutely no assurances of playing time.

However, early-season injuries to Clint Frazier and Aaron Hicks would have given Ellsbury a chance. Now, he’s once more a spare outfield part, with an albatross contract that doesn’t expire until after the 2020 season.

Rookie watch

Estevan Florial

Estevan Florial(Photo11: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

The lefty-hitting outfielder, rated the club’s No. 1 prospect, played just 75 games at Class A Tampa in 2018, a year interrupted by a hamate fracture. Florial returns for his second big-league camp, but he just turned 21, putting his MLB debut somewhere in the distant future.

Jonathan Loaisiga

Jonathan Loaisiga(Photo11: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports)

After a brief big-league stint in 2018, the right-hander could impact the Yankees as a starter or in relief. Right-hander Chance Adams’ stock has tumbled since last spring, but he did get a late-season call-up, debuting at Fenway Park.

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New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino, center, and his teammates rush the field after the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton (27) and Luke Voit, right, celebrate Stanton's solo home run in the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton (27) and Luke Voit, right, celebrate Stanton's solo home run in the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge on the field after the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino, center, and his teammates rush the field after the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino, center, and his teammates rush the field after the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Didi Gregorius hits a single against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Aaron Hicks hits a double, Aaron Judge (not pictured) scores in the sixth inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) and Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrate at home plate after Judge scores on a double hit by Aaron Hicks (not pictured) in the sixth inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Aaron Hicks smiles at third base after Aaron Judge (not pictured) scores in the sixth inning off of his double in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Didi Gregorius, center, celebrates with New York Yankees; Giancarlo Stanton (27) and New York Yankees' Aaron Hicks, right, after they score on a triple hit by Luke Voit (not pictured) in the sixth inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Luke Voit (45) slides into home past Oakland A's catcher Jonathan Lucroy in the sixth inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' CC Sabathia claps as Luke Voit (not pictured) scores in the sixth inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Oakland Athletics pitcher Lou Trivino, fields the ball as New York Yankees’ Aaron Hicks, races to first base. However, Hicks was out at first base. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino, is ecstatic after striking out a batter to end the fourth inning to keep his hitless streak alive. Severino pitched four hitless innings before giving up two in the fifth before he was removed from the game. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Aaron Judge rounds third base after his two-run home run in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, left, and Andrew McCutchen, right, celebrate Judge's two-run home run at home plate in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Aaron Judge, left, and Andrew McCutchen, right, celebrate Judge's two-run home run at home plate in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Aaron Judge (99) and Giancarlo Stanton, right, high-five at home plate after Judge's two-run home run in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Aaron Judge watches his two-run home run in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendricks pitches to the New York Yankees in the first inning in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino pitches to the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino pitches to the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Didi Gregorius stands for the National Anthem before facing the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendricks walks off the field after giving up two runs in the first inning against the Yankees in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendricks walks off the field after giving up two runs in the first inning against the Yankees in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Didi Gregorius hits a single against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Aaron Judge looks up before touching home plate after hitting a two-run home-run in the first inning to to put the Yankees on the scoreboard first. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

Aaron Judge looks towards the Yankees dugout after hitting a two-run home-run in the first inning to to put the Yankees on the scoreboard first. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Giancarlo Stanton, right, jokes around with teammates during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Aaron Judge, second from left, during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Gary Sanchez, right, and Giancarlo Stanton, left, talk during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York YankeesÕ Aaron Judge, left, seen during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, right, on the field during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Former New York Yankees Bernie Williams, left, and Reggie Jackson, right, on the field during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, right, talks with Oakland Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

(from left) Oakland Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman talk during batting practice. New York YankeesÕ The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Former New York Yankees Reggie Jackson, left, and Bernie Williams, right, talk on the field during batting practice. The Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

The New York Yankees take the field for batting practice before they face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Former Oakland Athletic, Dennis Eckersley, is at Yankee Stadium to watch The New York Yankees face his former tean in the American League Wild Card game. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone answers a reporter's question during a press conference before the Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Hector Montalvo and his good luck puppet “Jackie Rabbitson” are hoping to bring luck to the Yankees even though they don’t have tickets. They have a winning record or 112-49 when they are at games. Kristie Cattafi/NorthJersey.com

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone answers a reporter's question during a press conference before the Yankees face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in New York. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Florida resident Harrison Hansen, 11, is lucky his grandma Ellen is a huge Yankees fan too. He asked her this summer if they could go to a playoff game in the Bronx and she kept her promise. They flew up from Florida yesterday just for the game. Kristie Cattafi/NorthJersey.com